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Offices: Top Shelf Productions, c/o Idea & Design Works, LLC, 14144 Ventura Blvd., Suite 210, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423 USA. Top Shelf Productions®, the Top Shelf logo, Idea and Design Works®, and the IDW logo are registered trademarks of Idea and Design Works, LLC. All Rights Reserved. With the exception of small excerpts of artwork used for review purposes, none of the contents of this publication may be reprinted without the permission of IDW Publishing.

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Written and created by AJ LoCascio.

Illustrated by Laurie A. Conley.

Editor-in-Chief: Chris Staros.

ISBN 978-1-60309-561-7

28 27 26 25 1 2 3 4

Visit our online catalog at www.topshelfcomix.com. Printed in China.

nce upon a year,

As summer’s sun is spent— Leaves rattle from their branches When the chilling winds lament.

A magic haunts the air, As small spirits pass unseen. They whisper to your soul,

n autumn, Maple Hollow

Grew more spooky with each day! Their love for Halloween Was a town-wide, grand display!

Each storefront, lawn, and lamppost Was bedecked in preparation! With nightly haunted hayrides And carving demonstrations!

However, all weren’t thrilled with these yearly fall traditions: Meet Dr. and Dr. Hollowell, both devout dental clinicians.

They thought the day was rotten, causing oral devastation. If it were up to them, they’d support its cancellation.

“A cavity catastrophe!” the pair was known to shout. “A day for greedy kids whose teeth will all fall out!”

But despite their constant sermons And their anti-Hallow-lean, Their little daughter, Holly, Was in love with Halloween…

Not long after being born

Holly ’roused in them suspicion

She had what they both agreed Was an “eerie disposition.”

She rejected all her toys

And the stuffed things they’d provide her But somehow grew quite fond Of a decorative rubber spider.

And no matter what the season She chose black and orange clothes.

When she learned to write her name Drew small pumpkins for the “O’s.”

When walking through the town

Despite her parents’ groans

She would drag them to the graveyard

To “see the pretty stones!”

Thus Halloween became, even under this oppression, As a time for all things Spooky! Holly’s passion, her obsession!

So every year she’d ask…

But no matter how she pleaded, They made her stay inside As other children trick-or-treated.

Now a girl of nearly ten With nine autumns left behind! It was time to take a stand

Time to change her parents’ minds!

She rolled out a schematic And began her presentation Speaking swiftly to avoid All parental condemnation.

“It’s not about the candy!”

Holly opened her debate “We’ll carve pumpkins, build a scarecrow, Frighten neighbors! Decorate!”

“I even sewed a costume “I did every stitch by hand!”

But her parents were unmoved— They just didn’t understand.

“I’m sorry, sweetie, no. It fosters poor hygiene. We simply can’t condone A single ounce of Halloween!”

But they paid it no attention “Besides, we’re off tonight,” said Dad “For a dental tech convention.”

“But!” attempted Holly,

When Holly heard the news She slumped up to her room “I’ll go waste away alone I guess… Forgotten…in the gloom.”

Holly’s parents left the house

Sure to close up every curtain And turned out all the lights

So no visitors were certain.

But Holly had prepared!

(In case her parents wouldn’t sway)

She devised a back-up plan

Walking home from school that day.

Just on the edge of town, At the farm of Mr. Duncan

Was a cozy little shop

Where she picked the perfect pumpkin.

Holly carried her selection

To the owner of the store

Who threw in a little candle

And a note entitled “Lore.”

It read: “When carving Jack-o’-Lanterns,

If you wish upon their light, Should the Spirits deem it worthy, They might visit Halloween night.”

So, on this Hallow’s Eve

Holly pressed on undismayed

She hacked into the pumpkin

With her plastic carving blade. She spooned out all the guts

Pressed the candle with a squish

And as she lit the pumpkin

She whispered it her wish.

“I wish I could be down there I wish Mom and Dad could see I wish I were part of Halloween! It’s the time when I’m most me!”

Then…the little candlewick

Caught flame and burst with light

Sent little embers swirling

Like a star field through the night.

Something wondrous was afoot Something Holly did not know Not only did the candle make The Jack-o’-Lantern glow.

Her wish had hitched a ride Inside a little single spark— The wind had swept it up Sent it zipping through the dark.

A wish can be so fickle, It rarely follows through. But this ambitious wish Was determined to come true!

It searched about the town: Who would help it? Who would hear it? When it spied the pumpkin patch, “Why, of course! A Halloween Spirit!

These “Spirits” are called Spoops And every fall they hatch Born from the smallest gourds, In every pumpkin patch.

They come in many forms From mummies, birds, and bats, To little pumpkin heads, And turnips, ghosts, and cats!

Some fly on tiny wings

And recolor all the leaves,

But their primary objective

To spread their spooky cheer!

They chill the autumn air, And put to sleep the trees.

Ensuring we all know That Halloween is here!

Poor Holly sat there, dismal, And wallowed in her pain. Her pumpkin, frowning sadly, Her face looked quite the same.

Once again she was alone

One more Halloween spent secluded Gazing down at costumed children As she longed to be included!

But in an instant that would change Flapping right to her location Was an inbound little Spoop Who had heard her invocation.

It burst through Holly’s window Bent a wing across its waist, Took a bow and cracked a smile ’Cross its crooked pumpkin face.

Holly reeled back in surprise And jumped behind her chair

“What on earth are you?!” She gasped! “You gave me quite a scare!”

The Spoop chirped in response

(As this is how Spoops speak.)

Holly stared at it confused

So it made another squeak.

It gestured to the pumpkin

As a further explanation

Then pointing back at Holly

Waiting for her revelation.

“The wish!” Holly realized!

“Yes! I’m not allowed to leave!

My parents think Halloween is ‘rotten,’ So I sit here…and I grieve.”

The Spoop hopped back in horror “Not go out on Halloween?!”

The thought was too repulsive, The idea—too obscene!

It paced about her desk its hollow mind a whir

If she couldn’t go to it… Could they bring it here…to her?

It then fluttered to the sill Letting out a haunting cry Which echoed through the night Like an eerie Lullaby.

Then other little voices Echoed back and harmonized, And a flock o’ flapping Spoops Flew in of every shape and size!

Then calling them to settle, Pumpkin told them Holly’s plight. It then sent them off with missions! To work their magic! Set things right!

The Turnips summoned stones

For a front yard cemetery

Owls pecked them all with rhymes

That were fun (and not too scary).

Cat Spoops wrangled up some spiders

Helped them weave their webs like thread;

The Reapers went to graveyards

To recruit the local dead.

The Scarecrow gathered pumpkins Mummy cursed the grounds with mists; The Candle lit the night With a band of willow wisps.

The Leaf Spoops blew about shaking sleeping trees awake; The Ghost Witches summoned scents Wafting smells of sweets and cake.

They took turns carving pumpkins

And enchanted each to fly

A display of grinning gourds

Glowing beacons in the sky!

To complete the full display

Took the help from every Spoop,

They produced a Jack-o’-Lantern

Twelve feet tall! At Holly’s stoop!

Holly toiled in her room

With the Spoops that stayed behind,

Sewing up a witchy outfit That was just as she designed!

Then Holly heard a noise

A distant murmur, soft, unclear It grew louder, it grew cheerful Sounds of people…coming here?

Holly ran up to her window!

Beheld a sight not seen before: A parade of Trick-or-Treaters Were all marching to her door!

The Spoops flew her through the air And she landed to applause. Then the whole house burst to life To the roar of “Oohs” and “Aahs!”

To the endless line of children

From her house and down the street, She handed each a pumpkin When they called out, “Trick or treat!”

“Best house in all the town!”

A child shouted to her, praising.

“Your costume is so cool!”

“Your decorations are amazing!”

For the first year in her life, Holly wasn’t sad or longing. Her heart glowed with a new warmth

A sudden sense of true belonging.

Though Holly felt fulfilled, Her whole wish was not yet true!

So the Spoops detached a convoy To see the rest of this wish through.

Dr. and Dr. Hollowell Walked back from their convention, Passing many Trick-or-Treaters With a touch of apprehension.

Spoops spotted them at once In their dental white and blue, They planned with hurried chatter As they sorted what to do.

To raise these parents’ spirits, Mere tricks would not suffice: They’d add a touch of magic With a dash of “Pumpkin Spice!” Not the same, it should be noted That you’d put in tea or pie. It’s a secret sort of dust Only Spoops of which supply.

They sprinkled Spice with haste Chirping ancient incantations, Which sprung to life a band Of some nearby decorations. Skeletons woke and rattled, Scarecrows bounding off their posts, They danced and drummed their bones To the tune of crooning ghosts.

The

Dentists froze in place

As these creatures stormed the street,

Then a pair of giddy ghouls

Promptly swept them off their feet.

Both objected with excuses

But the music drowned ’em out.

Soon their protests turned to laughter As the pair were twirled about.

And when the dance had ended With a dizzy, breathless bow, They were cheered by smiling faces Who seemed different to them now.

What they once had thought was awful

Having loathed both trick and treater, Was not what they’d imagined

This sight somehow was…sweeter.

All around them, happy families

Not just gorging sticky treats: Perhaps this Halloween thing Could mean more than eating sweets…

Back with little Holly

As the cold air settled in, She was feeling quite exhausted As the Trick-or-Treaters thinned.

There came a hurried chirping As the lookouts let them know: Her parents were approaching! It was time to end the show!

They flew Holly to her room, Put the whole house back in place. When her parents did arrive, There’d be not a single trace.

Holly made herself look busy

Doodling idly in a pad Knock knock knocking at her door

Followed by her mom and dad.

They shuffled in, quite stern And they didn’t say a word Had they somehow found her out? Had they somehow seen or heard?

Before a greeting even happened Something behind her drew their eyes They both wandered to the window

To Holly’s horror and surprise.

The Jack-o’-Lantern! She’d forgotten! She held her breath and froze in place Her parents turned it in their hands Peculiar looks upon their face.

“You did this?” asked her mother

But Holly, too stunned to reply She had no explanation It was useless to deny.

“This is great,” exclaimed her dad Causing Holly’s head to spin “The precision!” added Mom “What a lovely, healthy grin!”

Holly rooted to the spot, She thought she was done for sure! Then her parents shared a look And both sat down on the floor.

“We both feel very sorry That you missed out on tonight, Even parents are just people, And we don’t get all things right.”

“Perhaps we’ve been too firm: What is Halloween to you?

If we’re not just eating candy Then what else can we all do?”

Holly jumped up to her feet

Spurred by years of her suppression She finally had her chance!

To share this passion, this obsession!

“There are just so many things! Carving pumpkins! Hayrides! Ciders!

Apple picking! Pumpkin picking! Creepy crafts—like giant spiders!”

“It lets you be creative! Wearing costumes, letting go! Haunted houses! Horror movies! Scaring people you don’t know!”

“It’s

the only time of year When Spooky People can feel free! No judgment! No more hiding! Just be who you want to be!”

“Hmm…” her parents said, Their faces strained and taut. They exchanged a knowing glance Stewing deeply in their thought.

“Perhaps we were quite stubborn, And should rethink our position: If we put our heads together Can we make our own tradition?”

“You could dress up scary!”

“But what costume would excite us?”

“Dress like teeth,” erupted Holly “That are plagued by gingivitis!”

Her parents shared a laugh

“And carving pumpkins looks like fun!”

“I’ll gladly show you how,” said Holly “We can each carve one!”

They wrapped her in a hug

And gave her cheeks a little kiss.

“We’ll be sure next Halloween Won’t be another one you miss.”

There was a flutter and a breeze And the subtle flap of wings They all turned and at the window Were three orange roundish things

Three pumpkins sat there waiting Parents stunned, but Holly knew “I’ll teach you how to carve right now! Halloween is not quite through!”

For the first time this small family Had a Happy Halloween Carving pumpkins, all together Holly feeling heard and seen.

In the midst of all the laughter

A tiny tap came at the door

Holly snuck away from carving

To see the Spoops were back once more.

“Thank you all,” said Holly, But no thanks need be said. They gave her farewell hugs And with parting chirps, they fled.

They soared into the sky To some secret place between, All so thankful to have made …such a Happy Halloween.

AJ LoCascio’s lifelong obsession with Halloween led him to wondering what exactly Halloween Spirit or “Spirits” might be. He scoured the globe in search of these elusive creatures, until he one day stumbled on a nest of Spoops hatchlings in the wilds of [REDACTED] New Jersey.

Recognizing AJ as a kindred Spooky Spirit, the Spoops have entrusted him with their tales of mischief and magic.

Laurie A. Conley has been illustrating books for over 30 years, in addition to creating spooky personal art featuring cute ghosts, cemeteries and haunted houses. Her style harkens back to a bygone era of children’s book illustration, and that is why the Spoops chose Laurie to draw this story for them. She was last spotted in the sky over Maryland, being happily carried by bats.